Thanks so much. My surgeon has told me to wait awhile longer. It's nice to know that someone is here that has made it through.

You are very welcome. It's hard to believe its been almost 7 years now. Do you think you will be getting the surgery or are you controlling it with medication?

My regular doctor thought I should have the surgery but I guess now surgeons are waiting if you only have uncomplicated attacks. I do have uncomplicated attacks...but I have them often.

My first diverticulitis attack was so bad (and also involved abscesses, and the drugs they gave me were so extrememly awful, that I felt thankful and releived to have the surgery 8 weeks after my initial diagnosis. Those had been the roughest 2 months of my life, and the resection surgery came as such a relief and an outlook of hope not to ever go through that again! I should note that the resection was my second surgery in that time frame...the first was to drain the abscesses. The time in between was strictly to get the infection under control.

Now that you have 7 years under your belt (mine has been one year), have you had any further intestinal problems or any dietary problems? I have had only one glitch, an incisional hernia which was repaired 2 months ago, but other than that I have no diet restrictions, no infections, and feel like I am living again! As a breast cancer survivor, I can say this disease was far more difficult that the breast cancer in terms of pain and suffering. It was even less scary in terms of mortality. When I first arrived at the hospital with a 105 degree temp, I was told this could kill me by tomorrow and had to sign my decision making over to my husband. Now that was truly more scary than my cancer. At least with that I felt I had a chance to fight.

My heart goes out to all who are suffering from this disease, and my hopes are that all of you can get it put behind you.

I meant more scary in terms of mortality...not less! oops!

carryall, my thoughts on that is why wait for the Big Attack. My friend had the surgery before a bad attack and did not have to go through what I did .... the colostomy bag. I say get it over with and avoid that terrible bag.

belindac, I went through the hernia stuff too after they removed the bag from me. It took about 2 months before the hernia appeared.
I altered my diet a little bit but if I go crazy with to much dairy I get gall bladder attacks. That was my gift after the 5 surgeries; gall bladder problems. As long as I take care of myself and limit my diary intake I'm fine. I don't always watch myself though. Hey, I'm Italian :)
And yes, this was a brutal surgery and my heart goes out to anyone who has to go through it. Just horrible. My advice to anyone with abdominal pain, get a second opinion; wish I had.
Glad you're doing as good as you are. We truly are Survivors!!

I just had a colonoscopy and the doctor suggested that I have part of my colon removed because of all the diverticulitis. She said it would be a laparoscopy surgery. She is recommending a surgeon. Not sure what to do. I had my first flare up in 2006 but have had two since Sept of this year.

Spacecoas..see what the surgeon says. My surgeon wants me to wait but laparoscopy surgery would be easier. If you need it, get it done. You don't want complications. Good luck to you.

Guys, is it your opinion that if you have diverticulitis glare ups you will eventually have to have the surgery. Had 4 really mild flare ups over the past year am terrified of the surgery, can it be avoided ? Thanks

If you can have the surgery before getting to the point I was at, I say Go For It!! My sisters boyfriend had it done and was back on his feet in less than two weeks. I ruptured and was out of work for 5 months. Don't wait, do it now.

I had a sigmoid colectomy in 1991 due to perforated diverticulitis and severe peritonitis. I got my first incisional hernia four weeks later.
Have had 12 more surgeries to repair about 30 hernia defects. Filled with mesh and wire now.
The good news is that the diverticula e disease is under control.
Lots of pain from scar tissue and adhesions, but no more perforation so far. Diet is key, fiber, lots of water. Abdomen is mutilated.

My greatest fear is colostomy bag.

Good luck to you all! Fiber, fiber, and more fiber.

Yes, the colostomy bag is rough, but sometimes its the better of two evils. When I had an attack, my first surgeon said he could avoid making the bag with doing a "belly bath." Unfortunately, after that procedure I just kept getting sicker. When my second surgeon finally took out my colon and make the bag, he said it was a very hard surgery that took 6 hours and would have been easier if I had done it right away. Wish I never had this bag, but certainly beats how I felt in the hospital that first week!